INSPIRATION STATEMENT
Notes From the Road: From being a local, to a
tourist.
tourist.
We rolled out of Ketchum on October 19th. The weather was still warm, and the trees were ablaze with Autumn Gold.
First stop: San Francisco.
Like the welcoming of an old friend, the Golden Gate Bridge was waiting for us to cross. Greeted with beautiful blue skies, San Francisco delivered on all fronts. The weather was perfect, the streets were lively, the cafes and restaurant favorites were buzzing, and our Pop-Up was once again filled with the most interesting and keen-eyed customers. It's why we are always sad to leave and excited to return.
We genuinely do find our hearts beating to the rhythm of the city by the bay! So, instead of comparing the memories of the city to those of its former years, we recommend you experience the city as it is today. Changing, reaching, and looking to evolve into its future potential. And yes, like every urban center in every state, the retail and business environment has been dismantled and changed forever. It is hard to say what will take the place of all the vacant street- level retail and businesses, but the community must also be willing to show support for those with the resilience and commitment to remain as the foundation of the fragile downtown business core.
Next stop: Hometown Seattle!
Winter Pop-Up–Located in the same neighborhood as our previous storefront, we were treated to daily walks to the Pike Place Market to enjoy the bounty of local farmers and vendors. While the city still has a long way to go to restore the community's sense of safety and security in the downtown corridor, some big projects have finally been completed from the waterfront to Pioneer Square, giving us hope that our belovedbcity can turn things around and showcase all the unique qualities thatbmake this PNW seaport so special.
My highlights as a local turned visitor:
1. The Pike Place Market waterfront expansion has finally been completed and is a game changer. It links the market to the waterfront, which has been completely reimagined and expanded after removing a bilevel highway formerly known as The Viaduct. You can now walk through the market and wind yourself down to the waterfront through an impressive terraced walking path that has expansive decking, beautiful landscaping, and several public seating areas to enjoy the magnificent views of the Olympic Mountains, Mt Rainer, and the impressive NW sunsets. The path takes you right to the entrance of the newly renovated Seattle Aquarium, which greets you with an enormous open-viewing tank.
The waterfront has been completely redone and has expansive walking and bike paths that will take you from Sculpture Park on the far north to Pioneer Square on the far south. The ferry terminals and seawall have been reconstructed to help seamlessly link the port straight into the city. Walking bridges and paths have been assigned to help visitors navigate their way downtown. The public docks have been rebuilt and will soon be able to host concerts and public activities as summer nears.
2. The Seattle Center - built in 1962 to host the Worlds Fair and home to the city's most iconic building, the Space Needle, has been energized and has become the city's cultural center. Playhouses, concert halls, ballet stages, sports areas, and the Science Center all live together on this impressive urban campus. It also offers up seasonal festivities from Christmas markets to music festivals like Folklife & Bumbershoot. While it is typical for locals to refrain from indulging in doing things that cater to tourists, we were treated to a magnificent evening at the top of the Space Needles' Loupe Lounge and observation deck. They both sit on the crown of this architectural jewel, and you are treated to a 360-degree view of the Seattle region – The Cascades to the east, The Olympics to the west, and the majestic Mt Rainer looking south. It really is Spectacular!! (It's particularly sexy at night!) Do yourself a favor and go with friends, family, or out-of-town guests to be reminded of how special this city truly is. Book a date ASAP!
https://www.spaceneedle.comhttps://www.spaceneedle.com/lounge
https://www.spaceneedle.comhttps://www.spaceneedle.com/lounge
3. Pioneer Square - The street renovation has finally been completed, and the residents and businesses have shown amazing resilience to weather the noise and street construction that have dominated this historic neighborhood for a few years. Complete with a ribbon cutting ceremony, the streets shimmer with Christmas lights, and the sidewalks are finally open for business! The scenic waterfront meets the district known for its historic architecture, cobblestone alleys, and sports stadiums hosting the Seahawks and The Mariners. Independent retail, galleries, bars, cafes, and plenty of good local restaurants have made Pioneer Square a neighborhood on the rise after a few years of tough going. Like most neighborhoods in Seattle, Pioneer Square still has some serious social issues that are not yet resolved, but for now, things appear to be looking up, and we are hoping it will just keep getting better, Baby!
4. The Downtown Retail Core - We hope that when all the other city projects have wrapped up, the soul focus of city leadership will be the Downtown Retail core. It is in desperate need of some serious love and attention. Both Wayne and I hold out hope, and will remain engaged and participate as best we can to support those who have the vision and innovative spirit to chart a new way forward. Seattle has been down before, and it has always come back. Combating the enormous challenges dragging the city down will not be smooth or easy, but we have to start looking for the light at the end of the tunnel.
Nothing is impossible ...
Believe Baby, we gotta keep believing!
Believe Baby, we gotta keep believing!